EU: Barley crop forecast reduced due to slight decline in Spanish production

Winter crops were finally planted after some wetness caused delays, but a clearing period the last 30 days allowed seeding to wrap up. Warmer than normal temperatures have also been beneficial to winter barley development in the EU, RMI Analytics reported this week.

The analysts’ EU27+UK production for crop’24, at 57.6 mln tonnes is -0.1 mln tonnes lower, due to a slight decline in Spain’s crop.

As maltsters advance the transition to crop’24 malting barley, the reports are generally positive in terms of processing & malt quality, with only the presence of minor dormancy delaying the switchover slightly.

Malting barley prices are lower as malt demand remains weak, and barley supplies are backing up in the supply chain. Feed barley prices are firmer as demand is present, and as a result, malting premiums are narrowing.